County works to make some agencies more energy efficient

NEW BOSTON, Texas—Bowie County commissioners are looking at making both the county’s courthouse and jail annex more energy efficient and apparently found the right company to help make this happen.

Commissioners agreed Tuesday to issue a letter authorizing a Carrollton, Texas-based energy conservation and efficiency company to test the county’s buildings for energy efficiency improvements.

The Texas Trane energy efficiency study firm will conduct a study for a full year on the courthouse as well as on the 748bed Bowie County Correctional Center in downtown Texarkana. The study’s purpose is to identify potential improvements and make recommendations to county officials.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Tom Whitten told the court that the firm will suggest improvements for both buildings’ heating, air conditioning, lighting and water systems.

In other business, commissioners agreed to buy a backhoe from Texarkana, Ark.-based Scott Construction Equipment company for the Precinct 4 road department for $68,580.

John Goodwin, with the Tyler, Texas-based Lochner Engineering firm, also delivered an update to commissioners regarding the nine-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 82 between Interstate 30 and DeKalb, Texas.

Goodwin said traffic continues to flow freely in both eastern and western directions along the newly expanded stretch, adding that the only work remaining is some soil erosion control on the roadway’s sides.